Written by Charlotte Cunningham
With oilseed rape about to enter its critical flowering period, AHDB has announced it will run its sclerotinia infection risk alerts service again this season to help growers better target sprays. Charlotte Cunningham reports. Based on observed and forecast weather data, the sclerotinia alerts flag potential infection risk periods and can help focus in-field monitoring. The web page also features inoculum-pressure data from a limited network of spore traps and provides information on crop growth stages. AHDB has also issued the spring update of the light leaf spot forecast, as well as predictive information on aphid activity (first flights and abundance). Catherine Harries, who manages disease research at AHDB, said: “In 2020, our analysis showed that the sclerotinia forecasts were around 96% accurate, with only around 2% false negatives. “Forecasts are never perfect, but we are encouraged by the results. Information on the presence of spores, weather and crop growth stage can really help target sclerotinia sprays.” Recent AHDB-funded research found that decisions based on sclerotinia inoculum levels and weather-based infection risk resulted in 26% fewer crops needing treatment. Typically, the optimum time for a single spray is just before mid-flowering on the main raceme and, since fungicides have protectant…
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